What is "Jack's Magic"?

[waterbear]

If you have iron staining the first thing I would try is dropping your pH to 7.2 and adding a double dose of sequsterant (Pink stuff or purple stuff if you have a SWG....I personally like ProTeams Metal Magic over the Jack's Magic line. You will need to add a maintenance dose of sequesterant monthly to keep the stains away (even though the bottles say add it weekly I have not found it to be necessary to add it that often). Also, don't let your pH go above 7.6 since high pH is one of the factors of stains returning! Run your pump for 14-48 hours after dropping the pH and adding the sequesterant and this might take care of the stains. Be aware that your water might get cloudy....this is normal. If it doesn't remove the stains you will need to treat with ascorbic acid. Mbar (Marie) is the forum's expert on that!
The most important thing is to try and figure out where the iron is coming from. Having your pool water and fill water tested for iron is a good idea.
If this doesn't get rid of the stains start a new thread about the staining and you will get all the help you need with the ascorbic acid treatment.

[Roddapool]

How do you test your water for Iron/metal. Do you think the pool store could test it or do you have to send it away

[aylad]

The pool store can test for it. Unfortunately, their test results also usually come with advice and a long list of stuff they want to sell you. Be strong!

Janet

[Roddapool]

Thank you. I know where Im going today.

[Aviendha]

Thanks to everyone who responded to my post!

I suspect that the iron is coming from my fill water. Our pool was a very nasty color when we first added water. And I'm sure that high pH is involved since it keeps creeping up on me.

One last question (well maybe 2)...

Waterbear~ You mentioned that my water may turn cloudy when I add the sequesterent...How long will this last and will I have to treat the water for the cloudiness or will it clear up on its own?

[mbar]

The water will clear up on it's own. The water may get cloudy from the sequesterant. The sequesterant will bind with the metal that is in the water and keep it from falling out onto the surface of the pool. Waterbear is right, high ph along with high chlorine levels will let any metal that is not tied up with a sequesterant fall out and stain the surface of the pool. When dealing with metals it is a good idea not to let your ph get higher than 7.5, and when raising your chlorine, raise it slowly. If you start to see stains coming back, drop the ph down to 7.2 add more sequesterant. I also find that when dealing with metals, using cal hypo shock seems to add to the staining. I like to use plain bleach for chloriniating with the occasional use of trichlor pucks. Waterbear suggests metal magic by proteam, I think this is a good idea because the metal magic is supposed to turn the metal into crystals so that it can eventually be removed. Other sequesterants just keep the metals suspended, therefore there is always metal in the water. Hope this helps.